Research Article

The Effect of Acute Pancreatitis on Systemic Complications and Comorbidities in Elderly Patients

Volume: 79 Number: 1 March 27, 2026
TR EN

The Effect of Acute Pancreatitis on Systemic Complications and Comorbidities in Elderly Patients

Abstract

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a clinical condition that can range from mild inflammation to severe forms accompanied by multiorgan failure. It is linked to notable rates of illness and death. Older adults are particularly vulnerable due to reduced physiological reserve and the presence of multiple comorbidities. This study sought to examine how age influences comorbidities and clinical outcomes in patients with AP. Aim: This study's main goal was to identify the risk factors contributing to systemic complications and mortality among individuals aged 65 and over diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. In addition, the study aimed to assess the effectiveness of commonly used clinical severity scoring systems across different age groups. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluated 401 patients who presented with acute pancreatitis between January 2023 and May 2025. Participants were initially categorized according to age into those younger than 65 years and those aged 65 years or older, with additional age-stratified subgroup analyses performed within the elderly population. Clinical, laboratory, and demographic variables were systematically assessed and compared. To determine independent predictors of systemic complications, local complications, and in-hospital mortality, multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied. Results: Of the 401 patients included, 50.1% were aged 65 years or above. Comorbidities including diabetes mellitus (32.3% vs. 9.0%), hypertension (75.1% vs. 15.5%), and coronary artery disease (34.8% vs. 5.5%) were markedly more common among elderly patients (all p < 0.05). Systemic complications were more commonly observed in elderly patients (39.3% vs. 25.5%, p = 0.003), whereas the incidence of local complications (23.5% vs. 17.4%) and in-hospital mortality (6.0% vs. 7.5%) showed no significant differences between the age groups (both p > 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, age ≥65 years (aOR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.20–3.18) and presence of diabetes (aOR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.47–4.21) emerged as independent predictors for systemic complications. Regarding in-hospital mortality, systemic complications (aOR = 2.68, 95% CI: 1.07–6.69) and reduced serum albumin levels (aOR = 0.43 per g/dL, 95% CI: 0.19–0.96) were found to be significant risk factors.The predictive performance of current severity scores for mortality and complications was limited in elderly patients (AUC <0.80). Conclusion: In conclusion, this study demonstrates that AP treatment in the elderly should be planned not only according to age but also according to comorbidities and clinical findings. Furthermore, the suitability of current risk scores for elderly patients should be reevaluated. New scoring models reflecting disease severity are needed for this specific group.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

None

Ethical Statement

ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Ankara Bilkent City Hospital. (Approval No: 1-25-1694).

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

March 27, 2026

Submission Date

January 29, 2026

Acceptance Date

March 21, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 79 Number: 1

APA
İnan, B., & Kılıç, Z. M. Y. (2026). The Effect of Acute Pancreatitis on Systemic Complications and Comorbidities in Elderly Patients. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası, 79(1), 108-117. https://doi.org/10.65092/autfm.1876247
AMA
1.İnan B, Kılıç ZMY. The Effect of Acute Pancreatitis on Systemic Complications and Comorbidities in Elderly Patients. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası. 2026;79(1):108-117. doi:10.65092/autfm.1876247
Chicago
İnan, Bayram, and Zeki Mesut Yalın Kılıç. 2026. “The Effect of Acute Pancreatitis on Systemic Complications and Comorbidities in Elderly Patients”. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası 79 (1): 108-17. https://doi.org/10.65092/autfm.1876247.
EndNote
İnan B, Kılıç ZMY (March 1, 2026) The Effect of Acute Pancreatitis on Systemic Complications and Comorbidities in Elderly Patients. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası 79 1 108–117.
IEEE
[1]B. İnan and Z. M. Y. Kılıç, “The Effect of Acute Pancreatitis on Systemic Complications and Comorbidities in Elderly Patients”, Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası, vol. 79, no. 1, pp. 108–117, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.65092/autfm.1876247.
ISNAD
İnan, Bayram - Kılıç, Zeki Mesut Yalın. “The Effect of Acute Pancreatitis on Systemic Complications and Comorbidities in Elderly Patients”. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası 79/1 (March 1, 2026): 108-117. https://doi.org/10.65092/autfm.1876247.
JAMA
1.İnan B, Kılıç ZMY. The Effect of Acute Pancreatitis on Systemic Complications and Comorbidities in Elderly Patients. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası. 2026;79:108–117.
MLA
İnan, Bayram, and Zeki Mesut Yalın Kılıç. “The Effect of Acute Pancreatitis on Systemic Complications and Comorbidities in Elderly Patients”. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası, vol. 79, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 108-17, doi:10.65092/autfm.1876247.
Vancouver
1.Bayram İnan, Zeki Mesut Yalın Kılıç. The Effect of Acute Pancreatitis on Systemic Complications and Comorbidities in Elderly Patients. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası. 2026 Mar. 1;79(1):108-17. doi:10.65092/autfm.1876247